Environmental Temperature, Other Climatic Variables, and Cardiometabolic Profile in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

To evaluate CV profiles, periprocedural complications, and in-hospital mortality in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) according to climate. Data from 2478 AMI patients (1779 men; mean age 67 ∓ 13 years; Pasquinucci Hospital ICU, Massa, Italy; 2007-2018) were retrospectively analyzed according to climate (LAMMA Consortium; Firenze, Italy) by using three approaches as follows: (1) annual warm (May-October) and cold (November-April) periods; (2) warm and cold extremes of the two periods; and (3) warm and cold extremes for each month of the two periods. All approaches highlighted a higher percentage of AMI hospitalization for patients with adverse CV profiles in relation to low temperatures, or higher periprocedural complications and in-hospital deaths.

Temperature-humidity index monitoring during two summer seasons in dairy cow sheds in Mugello (Tuscany).

Many studies have reported that the impact of high temperatures affects physiology, welfare, health, and productivity of farm animals, and among these, the dairy cattle farming is one of the livestock sectors that suffers the greatest effects. The temperature-humidity index (THI) represents the state of the art in the evaluation of heat stress conditions in dairy cattle but often its measurement is not carried out in sheds. For this reason, the aim of this study was the monitoring of the THI in three dairy cattle farms in Mugello (Tuscany) to understand its influence on dairy cows.

Wild ungulates and environmental temperature: analysis on the possible utilization of data from sensor placed on GPS collars.

GPS collars for wildlife provide a large amount of spatio-temporal location data and are frequently equipped with sensors that record the animal-level environmental temperature at a schedulable sampling frequency. The simultaneous collection of environmental temperature and animal location may contribute not only to deepen the understanding of animal behavior in different climatic conditions, but also to increase the knowledge of climate features in inaccessible areas. The measurement of environmental temperature provided by the sensors, however, can be biased by several factors (e.

Weather-Related Flood and Landslide Damage: A Risk Index for Italian Regions.

The frequency of natural hazards has been increasing in the last decades in Europe and specifically in Mediterranean regions due to climate change. For example heavy precipitation events can lead to disasters through the interaction with exposed and vulnerable people and natural systems. It is therefore necessary a prevention planning to preserve human health and to reduce economic losses.

Temperature Characterization of Different Urban Microhabitats of Aedes albopictus (Diptera Culicidae) in Central-Northern Italy.

Aedes albopictus (Skuse) is an invasive mosquito species that has spread to many countries in temperate regions bordering the Mediterranean basin, where it is becoming a major public health concern. A good knowledge of the thermal features of the most productive breeding sites for Ae. albopictus is crucial for a better estimation of the mosquitoes' life cycle and developmental rates.

Seasonal differences in climate in the Chianti region of Tuscany and the relationship to vintage wine quality.

Climatic factors and weather type frequencies affecting Tuscany are examined to discriminate between vintages ranked into the upper- and lower-quartile years as a consensus from six rating sources of Chianti wine during the period 1980 to 2011. These rankings represent a considerable improvement on any individual publisher ranking, displaying an overall good consensus for the best and worst vintage years. Climate variables are calculated and weather type frequencies are matched between the eight highest and the eight lowest ranked vintages in the main phenological phases of Sangiovese grapevine.

A risk-analysis approach to the evaluation of analytical quality.

Background: Setting specifications for analytical quality is always difficult. The risk-management approach might be a way to do so. In this approach, the definition of the required analytical quality is based on the evaluation of patient risk.

Transmission potential of chikungunya virus and control measures: the case of Italy.

During summer 2007 Italy has experienced an epidemic caused by Chikungunya virus - the first large outbreak documented in a temperate climate country - with approximately 161 laboratory confirmed cases concentrated in two bordering villages in North-Eastern Italy comprising 3,968 inhabitants. The seroprevalence was recently estimated to be 10.2%.

CSF proteomic analysis in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus selected for the shunt: CSF biomarkers of response to surgical treatment.

The aim of our pilot study was to investigate, by a proteomic approach, the expressed differences in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein patterns in order to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Seventeen patients with NPH, selected by Intracranial-Pressure monitoring (ICPmo), underwent implantation of a shunt and after 6 months were clinically re-evaluated. Thirteen patients improved, whereas four did not.

The role of N-terminal PRO-brain natriuretic peptide and echocardiography for screening asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction in a population at high risk for heart failure. The PROBE-HF study.

Background: Screening for asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction (ALVD) in subjects at risk for heart failure (HF) can affect clinical management. The aim of the present study is to examine the role of NT-pro BNP in the diagnosis of ALVD in subjects with hypertension and diabetes from primary care.

Methods And Results: A total of 1012 subjects with hypertension and/or diabetes and no symptoms or signs of HF were assessed by B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) assay and echocardiography.

Computer-assisted detection of monoclonal components: results from the multicenter study for the evaluation of CASPER (Computer Assisted Serum Protein Electrophoresis Recognizer) algorithm.

Background: To investigate the potential use of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) in the evaluation of serum protein electrophoresis, we set up a multicenter study involving six Italian laboratories. For this purpose, we developed an algorithm named CASPER (Computer Assisted Serum Protein Electrophoresis Recognizer).

Methods: A total of 59,516 samples from the six centers were divided into three groups.

Process and risk analysis to reduce errors in clinical laboratories.

Background: An important point in improving laboratory quality is the definition of some indicators to be monitored as measures of a laboratory trend. The continuous observation of these indicators can help to reduce errors and risk of errors, thus enhancing the laboratory outcome. In addition, the standardization of risk evaluation techniques and the definition of a set of indicators can eventually contribute to a benchmarking process in clinical laboratories.

Lack of concordance between the 75-g and 100-g glucose load tests for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is common and can have a substantial impact on fetal growth, birth weight, and morbidity. The American Diabetes Association recommends GDM testing with either a 3-h, 100-g glucose load (100 g) (criteria according to Am J Obstet Gynecol 1982;144:768-73) or a 2-h, 75-g glucose load (75g). We investigated the comparability of the 75 g and the 100g tests in the diagnosis of GDM.

Cystatin C reference values and aging.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the reference values for serum cystatin C (CysC) with a particular focus on the effect of aging.

Design And Methods: The study was performed on a consecutive series of subjects (258 men and 396 women). Laboratory parameters and a detailed personal and family medical history were collected.

Laboratory network of excellence: enhancing patient safety and service effectiveness.

Clinical laboratories have undergone major changes due to technological progress and economic pressure. While costs of laboratory testing continue to be the dominant issue within the healthcare service worldwide, quality, effectiveness and impact on outcomes are also emerging as critical value-added features. Five Italian laboratories are therefore promoting a network of excellence by investigating markers of effectiveness of laboratory services and sharing their experience of using them in clinical practice.

Multicentre performance evaluation of the E170 module for modular analytics.

The E170 module was evaluated at 13 sites in an international multicentre study. The objective of the study was to assess the analytical performance of 49 analytes, and to collect feedback on the system's reliability and practicability. The typical, within-run coefficients of variation (CVs) for most of the quantitative assays ranged between 1 and 2% while a range of 2-4% was achieved with the infectious disease methods.

Evaluation of the analytic performances of the new HPLC system HLC-723 G7 for the measurement of hemoglobin A1c.

Objectives: The analytical performance of a new automated HPLC system, for the determination of HbA1C in blood (Tosoh HLC-723 G7), was studied.

Design And Methods: The study design included the evaluation of imprecision, linearity, interference and carryover. Comparison study was performed by comparing HbA1C results with those obtained from an established method (Bio-Rad Variant II).

Plasma adiponectin and hyperglycaemia in diabetic patients.

The insulin-sensitising adipose hormone adiponectin is reduced in type 2 diabetic patients. We assessed the relationships between plasma adiponectin and chronic hyperglycaemia. Adiponectin levels and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured at enrolment and after 90 days in 16 patients with type 2 diabetes aged (mean +/- SEM) 63.

Epoetin alpha, epoetin beta and darbepoetin alfa: two-dimensional gel electrophoresis isoforms characterization and mass spectrometry analysis.

Since 1989 recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) has been used as a drug for the correction of anemia, but the misuse of rhEPO as an ergogenic agent among athletes is a widespread doping practice. As a consequence there is a need for developing reference methods for the detection of rhEPO in biological fluids, and to be able to differentiate the recombinant from the natural protein. Recombinant human erythropoietin differs from its natural counterpart in the glycidic part of the molecule.